Man convicted over unauthorised taking of girlfriend's father's car in North Longford

A man who admitted the unauthorised taking of his girlfriend's father's car and filled up his vehicle with diesel and left without paying, has received a suspended five month prison sentence.

David Gordon of Killasolan, Mountbellew, Ballinasloe, county Galway, pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to unauthorised taking of a vehicle on the proviso of being 'reckless over that permission' and to the theft of the diesel on September 4, 2023.

Garda Inspector Brian Boland, court presenter, said the defendant pulled into Macken's Service Station, Barrack Street, Granard in a grey Honda Civic car at 4.20pm on May 14, 2023.

"He filled the vehicle with €40.70 of diesel and he went to the counter and he claimed he did not have the money to pay for the fuel but he maintained he would return the following day to pay for it.

"He failed to return."

The court heard the car was his girlfriend's father's vehicle and he had no permission to drive it.

Inspector Boland said subsequent enquiries established a car had been reported stolen to Gardaí between 11pm on May 13, 2023 and 9.30am on May 14, 2023 and taken from an address in Ballinasloe, county Galway.

The prosecuting officer stated the vehicle was recovered by Gardaí intact in Mountbellew on May 17, 2023 and Mr Gordon was subsequently identified on CCTV footage taken from Macken's garage that he was the driver and sole occupant.

Insp Boland said the defendant was arrested and interviewed on October 11, 2023 and he made full admissions in relation to the drive-off and the taking and using of the vehicle without the consent of the owner.

Ross Nestor BL, defending, said his client, who was aged 21 at the time of the offence, was pleading guilty to unauthorised taking on the basis of being 'reckless' over that permission.

"There was a domestic context to this in that the injured party was the father of Mr Gordon's ex-girlfriend.

"There was a mistaken belief he had consent to take the car, I believe the reason he took the car was to clear his head."

The legal representative stated his client was remorseful and he had €50 in compensation that he was able to hand into the judge.

Mr Nestor said this was a man, who at the time, was labouring under certain addictions and who had a 'pretty chaotic lifestyle'.

"He was a young man at the time, 21 years of age, and he recently has a new addition to his family with his girlfriend who he resides with.

Mr Nestor stated Mr Gordon identified himself on CCTV footage and he 'made frank and honest submissions'.

"When the matter was put to him for an explanation he said, 'I'm sorry for doing it, drugs were a big piece of my life and I'm coming off it now,'" he added.

Judge Vincent Deane noted the guilty plea and circumstances and he imposed a five month sentence, which was suspended for a two year period and a condition that he is not to drive for that 24-month period.

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